Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum)

As we have said in our previous publications, when the Creator created human beings, He created them with all the necessary things for human life. Plants are one of the many things created by nature for mankind and some plants are serving our world as medicines that can cure many diseases and are the source of many medicines. 

Garlic is a plant in the Allium (onion) family, closely related to onions, shallots, and leeks. It is native to Central Asia and has been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Garlic bulbs, which are the underground part of the plant, are composed of multiple cloves enclosed in a papery, white or pinkish skin.

Garlic is widely used in cooking as a flavoring agent, and its pungent aroma and strong taste are distinctive. It is often added to dishes such as soups, stews, sauces, and marinades. Garlic is also used in traditional medicine for its potential health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels, and boosting immune function.

Garlic contains a compound called allicin, which is responsible for many of its health benefits. Allicin is released when garlic is crushed or chopped, and it has antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, excessive consumption of garlic can also cause digestive discomfort and bad breath.

Garlic is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion and Chinese onion. Garlic is the edible bulb from a plant in the lily family. It was traditionally used for health purposes by people in many parts of the world, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Japanese. 

Currently, garlic is most commonly promoted as a dietary supplement for conditions related to the heart and blood vessels, including high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure. Fresh garlic, garlic powder, and garlic oil are used to flavor foods. Garlic may be used topically (applied to the skin).

Garlic (Allium sativum) 

A great deal of research has been done on garlic, especially on garlic’s effect on high blood lipid levels (hyperlipidemia) and high blood pressure (hypertension). It is a powerful detox food that promotes glutathione production by various liver enzymes. It also provides other important detoxifying components, including multiple bioactive selenium and sulfur compounds.

Benefits of Adding Garlic to Your Recipes and Meals

Garlic is probably safe for most people in the amounts usually eaten in foods. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use garlic supplements or apply garlic to the skin during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. While there’s conflicting evidence, the most reliable results suggest that taking garlic supplements may reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in people with high levels of these blood lipids. If it does, the effect is small, and it may take more than 8 weeks before noting any improvement. Taking garlic doesn’t appear to improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels or triglycerides (another blood lipid).

Garlic Help Lower Blood Pressure

Strokes and heart attacks are two of the most significant health concerns worldwide. High blood pressure is a considerable risk factor for heart disease. It’s thought to cause about 70% of strokes, heart attacks, and chronic heart failure. High blood pressure is the cause of 13.5 percent of deaths worldwide. Because they are among the significant causes of death, addressing one of their primary causes, high blood pressure, is extremely important. 

Garlic is a fantastic spice to include in your diet for those suffering from high blood pressure or hypertension. However, even if you are not a lover of garlic, taking garlic supplements will still give you the health benefits such as lowering high blood pressure, treating fever, and many more.

Keep in mind that you must make sure that the amount of these supplements you take is the same as four cloves of garlic each day.  Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start taking any supplements.A couple of cloves a day may help keep a visit to the cardiologist away. “Garlic stimulates the synthesis of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels, and inhibits ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) activity,” . (ACE inhibitors help relax blood vessels.) This could potentially support healthy blood flow and pressure.

Garlic Has Antibiotic Properties

Garlic contains allicin. Allicin is a bioactive antibiotic that can help fight infections and bacteria in sliced, squashed, or diced cloves. Garlic extracts have been shown to suppress the growth of:-

• fungi elements

• Protozoa elements

• viral infections

• numerous bacteria, for example, Salmonella

Allicin is believed to be a viable antibiotic replacement. It also assists when used in conjunction with conventional prescribed antibiotics.

Garlic May Help Quell Inflammation

Scientists believe that chronic inflammation is a driver behind chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and arthritis, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Garlic, on the other hand, helps inhibit the activity of certain inflammatory proteins, says Raj. In a randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 70 women with the inflammatory autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis, the group who took 1,000 milligrams of garlic supplements per day for eight weeks had lower inflammatory markers, less pain and fatigue, and fewer tender joints compared with a placebo group. Researchers published their findings in November 2020 in Phototherapy Research.

Garlic May Help Lower Cholesterol

Another potential perk of garlic for the heart: improving cholesterol levels. How? Garlic “may help decrease the production of cholesterol by the liver,” says Bazilian. Cholesterol is a fatty component in the blood. There are two kinds of cholesterol: “bad” LDL cholesterol and “good” HDL cholesterol. Far too much LDL cholesterol and not enough HDL cholesterol can cause serious health issues.

While more research is needed to determine the relationship between garlic intake and cholesterol levels, a meta-analysis and review of studies that was published in May 2018 in Medicine concluded that taking garlic supplements was effective in lowering both total cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol levels, which are two risk factors for heart disease. Garlic has been shown to lower total cholesterol and LDL levels by 10 to 15 percent.

Garlic Can Help With Prevention of Cancer

Garlic’s health benefits do not end with the heart. So here is another reason why your body can benefit from an extra dose of this onion family member.

According to research, consuming fresh garlic can help lessen the risk of colon cancer. According to the Iowa Women’s Health Study, women who ate garlic regularly with other vegetables and fruits had a 35% lower chance of getting colon cancer. However, researchers agree that more studies are still needed in this area.

 Garlic Helps Boost Your Body's Immune System

Your body’s immunity is what keeps it from getting sick in the first place, and it also aids in the fight against illness when the situation calls for it. Garlic offers an immune system boost to help prevent colds and the flu virus. Children get six to eight colds each year, while adults get two to four. Eating raw garlic can protect against cough, fever, and cold illnesses.

Eating two chopped garlic cloves every day is the best way to benefit. In some households around the world, families hang garlic cloves on a string around their children’s necks to help them with congestion. Children get six to eight colds each year, while adults get two to four. Eating raw garlic can protect against cough, fever, and cold illnesses.

Garlic is Good for kidney.

Due to its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties garlic is a good nutritional food candidate for use in a “Food as Medicine” approach for chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Garlic Helps Detox Your Body

Detoxification is the process of getting rid of things that don’t belong in the body. It is an important part of good health and long life.We are exposed to a wide range of chemicals and compounds daily while living in the world today. Many of these compounds are not healthy and may even be detrimental to the body. The environment, water, and food include:-

• Pesticides and chemicals used in agriculture
• Radiation etc from nuclear plants
• Personal care products containing chemicals
• Household cleaners
• Other household products

Garlic is a powerful detox food that promotes glutathione production by various liver enzymes. It also provides other important detoxifying components, including multiple bioactive selenium and sulfur compounds.

Garlic Can Improve Athletic Performance

This ingredient is one of the earliest performance enhancers available. Garlic was used in the olden days to alleviate weariness and boost laborers’ working hours and endurance. It was also fed to Greek Olympic athletes to boost their athletic performance.

As discussed above, garlic can help:-

• Cholesterol levels
• Lower blood pressure
• Boosts immunity
• Reduces the length of illness

A healthy heart and body are key to keeping you fit. Ultimately, eating garlic plays an excellent role in minimizing, even if subtly, how soon you get weary when physically exerting yourself. 

Is it good to eat raw garlic?

Garlic is usually consumed cooked but can be eaten raw, which is even better because the raw form preserves all its beneficial nutrients. Most of the benefits of raw garlic come from an enzyme called allicin Allicin has anti-inflammatory, ant oxidative, antibacterial, and anticancer properties.

 Keep Calm and Garlic On!

Now that we have discussed the health benefits of garlic, whether raw or taken as a supplement, you can take the first step to a healthier, better you.